Sales of sport-utility vehicles (SUVs) and light commercial vans produced at its plant in the Russian republic of Tatarstan, which makes the Kuga, Explorer and Transit models, rose by 50 percent in 2017, Ford Sollers said.

Ford Sollers said it expected a recovery in the Russian auto market to continue into 2018.

New car sales in Russia rose by 15 percent in November 2017 compared to the same period the year before, the Association of European Businesses lobby group said in its latest monthly statement. (Reporting by Maria Kiselyova; Writing by Polina Ivanova; Editing by Alexander Smith)